Liriano requested $5 million and was offered $3.6 million from the Twins when arbitration figures were submitted last month, so the two sides ultimately settled at the exact midpoint.

The 27-year-old left-hander went 14-10 with a 3.62 ERA over 31 starts last season, setting career-highs with 201 strikeouts over 191 2/3 innings. It has taken Liriano a while to find his footing after Tommy John surgery, but thanks to a sharp uptick in velocity last season, he began to resemble the emerging ace we saw back in 2006.

Liriano remains under team control though 2012, so the Twins still have some time to talk about a long-term contract extension.